What’s needed to build a ‘startup nation’ [Editorial]

[webfact]

What’s needed to build a ‘startup nation’

By The Nation

 

 

Talented Thailand could lead Asia onto the global tech and innovation stage if financing is in place to light the bonfire

 

The thousands of technology startups emerging in Thailand should be inspired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s latest message about turning the country into a “startup nation”, especially with a focus on using new technologies to uplift the economic wellbeing of farmers and other lower-income groups.

 

There are now an estimated 8,500 startups in Thailand, many of which have been launched by aspiring young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to solve the “pain points” faced by consumers, businesses and other stakeholders in society.

 

By taking advantage of digital and other new technologies – from data analysis and blockchain to artificial intelligence and cloud computing – they hope to provide better methods for tackling stubborn, age-old problems using new models in business and social enterprises.

 

As a startup nation, Thailand aims to be Asia’s global platform for the new generation of so-called “economic warriors”, starting from college and university students with exposure to new technologies to those already in business or the labour market.

 

In fact, startup programmes that bring in experienced or even retired people with specific qualifications to help younger persons develop new business models should be encouraged so that society can benefit from both worlds.

 

On the social front, over the past several decades the country has faced the significant negative consequences of an unbalanced national development strategy, ranging from unequal access to natural and other resources to environmental degradation and poverty.

 

These issues could be tackled more effectively with new technologies and more creative ways of doing business. Hence, the government needs to play the facilitator role to help usher in a suitable eco-system for startups.

 

A proper legal and regulatory framework is required, especially with regard to flexibility in permitting foreign nationals and tech talents to work in the country and in permitting a new category of limited companies whose capitalisation and valuation are different from those of traditional businesses.

 

A one-stop-service agency responsible for the registration and promoting of these startups is also necessary, while tax and other incentives should also be provided to multiple private-sector efforts on incubation and related programmes.

 

In terms of human resources, the government should set aside a budget to help startups with recruitment and payrolls during their early stages of development, when these entrepreneurs are mostly short of cash flow even if their products and services have a promising future.

 

In addition, a state-sponsored fund is needed to provide grants and loans for colleges and universities to invest in new technologies and human talent to help drive the growth of a new eco-system.

 

Of several thousands of startups, only 10-15 per cent can be expected to succeed, while the rest will likely fail. To thrive in the new eco-system, failures should be seen creatively – as lessons.

 

This means they should fail fast and start again quickly.

 

While startups initially might not create many jobs by themselves, they have the potential to trigger new businesses and industries, while boosting the competitiveness of the Thai economy in the global context, where platform economic activities are becoming more strategically important than the traditional economy.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30357711

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-02

[Samui Bodoh]

"...What’s needed to build a ‘startup nation’..."

 

A proper system of education?

Realistic laws that are actually enforced?

No more coups?

A society based on merit rather than connections and/or 'face'?

Intellectual property protections?

An honest bureaucracy?

Stable, demand-responsive, democratically-elected government?

Opportunities for all, not simply the few?

Honest police?

The complete overhaul of the Ministry of Education?

The drastic shrinkage of the Thai military?

Social equality?

Teachers that actually enter the classroom?

Etc, etc, etc

 

Am I getting close?

 

 

[z42]

34 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...What’s needed to build a ‘startup nation’..."

 

A proper system of education?

Realistic laws that are actually enforced?

No more coups?

A society based on merit rather than connections and/or 'face'?

Intellectual property protections?

An honest bureaucracy?

Stable, demand-responsive, democratically-elected government?

Opportunities for all, not simply the few?

Honest police?

The complete overhaul of the Ministry of Education?

The drastic shrinkage of the Thai military?

Social equality?

Teachers that actually enter the classroom?

Etc, etc, etc

 

Am I getting close?

 

 

Close enough... But what about the role of those people decked out in Orange robes?

[zzaa09]

How about retaining the culture, firstly....

[zzaa09]

23 minutes ago, z42 said:

Close enough... But what about the role of those people decked out in Orange robes?

Not included, as that's even a bigger business than we can speak of.

[DrTuner]

Allow everything BOI does without the current red tape for foreigners and they'd get the startups. Locals...pffft.

[Lungstib]

Start ups only happen in Thailand because talented, bright young people are fed up to the back teeth with the sycophantic behaviour needed to progress in the old fashioned, bureaucratic businesses that already exist. Only a few will be successful because the 'system', like a deep pool of stagnant mud, will do its best to drag them down and halt any changes to a modern world. That good old military mind of orders from the top down doesn't allow for start-up success. 

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

What’s needed to build a ‘startup nation’

number 1: a military that reports to the civilian sector

[Oziex1]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...What’s needed to build a ‘startup nation’..."

 

A proper system of education?

Realistic laws that are actually enforced?

No more coups?

A society based on merit rather than connections and/or 'face'?

Intellectual property protections?

An honest bureaucracy?

Stable, demand-responsive, democratically-elected government?

Opportunities for all, not simply the few?

Honest police?

The complete overhaul of the Ministry of Education?

The drastic shrinkage of the Thai military?

Social equality?

Teachers that actually enter the classroom?

Etc, etc, etc

 

Am I getting close?

 

 

Pretty close.

 

I'll add: get rid of the computer crimes act. LM. Perhaps you covered these in the line realistic laws.

 

And of course the banishment of superstition.

[Cadbury]

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s latest message about turning the country into a “startup nation”

The PM talks glibly about his great ideals like Thailand being a "startup nation" conveniently forgetting the decrepit Thai education system cannot deliver what is required. There are constant token changes being made to the system but they amount to nothing more that deckchair re-arranging. Fix the education system and the rest might have a chance to follow.

One very good point raised in the story was that of the older generation helping out by mentoring the younger ones to turn their ideas into practical businesses. This is where the collective wealth of knowledge from retired expats could be drawn upon to give a the young ones a lift up in achieving their goals.

I am sure many retired expats with specialised knowledge would willingly volunteer their services and step forward to help out. What a pity the paranoia of the Country's leaders won't allow some special visa and work permit concessions to make it easier for this to happen. Loss of face and the "we know everything" factors work against the idea as well.

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, z42 said:

Close enough... But what about the role of those people decked out in Orange robes?

You need them to sprinkle water on the startups.

[Lupatria]

Startup real democracy and a check and balance system.

[geronimo]

Despite all the TV commercials saying how easy it is to finance a start up, my son's business, which is 10 months old and grosses over 100k a month, cannot get a small business loan from ANY of the banks.

 

Prayud can say what he likes, on the ground, nothing has changed.

[manchega]

Common sense

Logic

Thinking

Well adjusted beings

 

basically its <deleted> up from the start

[manchega]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

You need them to sprinkle water on the startups.

probably correct, they sprinkle salt on the clouds

[manchega]

3 hours ago, Cadbury said:

 

The PM talks glibly about his great ideals like Thailand being a "startup nation" conveniently forgetting the decrepit Thai education system cannot deliver what is required. There are constant token changes being made to the system but they amount to nothing more that deckchair re-arranging. Fix the education system and the rest might have a chance to follow.

One very good point raised in the story was that of the older generation helping out by mentoring the younger ones to turn their ideas into practical businesses. This is where the collective wealth of knowledge from retired expats could be drawn upon to give a the young ones a lift up in achieving their goals.

I am sure many retired expats with specialised knowledge would willingly volunteer their services and step forward to help out. What a pity the paranoia of the Country's leaders won't allow some special visa and work permit concessions to make it easier for this to happen. Loss of face and the "we know everything" factors work against the idea as well.

It would not work here, seriously

This place requires a pol pot, or some major communism to fix it

The place is not able to support a Singapore type thinking model, it lacks the horsepower